Size, shape and surface morphology of starch granules from Norway spruce needles revealed by transmission electron microscopy
and atomic force microscopy: effects of elevated CO2 concentration
Jana Cabálková (1, 2), Jan Přibyl (3), Petr Skládal (3), Pavel Kulich (4) and Josef Chmelík (1)
1. Institute of Analytical Chemistry of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v. v. i., Department of Proteomics and
Glycomics, Veveří 97, Brno, CZ-602 00, Czech Republic / 2. Corresponding author () / 3. National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, Brno, CZ-611 37, Czech Republic / 4. Veterinary Research Institute v. v. i., Hudcova 70, Brno, CZ-621 00, Czech Republic / Received January 22, 2008; accepted May 20, 2008; published online August 1, 2008
Summary
We compared the effects of ambient (350 ppm) and elevated CO2 concentration (700 ppm) on the size and shape of starch granules in Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) needles during one growing season. Starch granules were isolated from needles by alkaline digestion and analyzed
by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Measurements made with a particle size analyzer
indicated that starch granules ranged between 0.5 and 10 µm. Granule size and shape varied according to needle developmental
stage and CO2 concentration. Generally, elevated CO2 concentration increased the size of the starch granules. Fine surface structures (< 10 nm in size) studied by AFM were characterized
by the presence of protrusions, furrows and pores.
